Laminate leather button with prong-type anchor

ABSTRACT

A composite leather button characterized by symmetrical inward and outward laminations having confronting adhesive-coated mating faces adhesively bonded face-to-face. A readily applicable shank is provided and is preferably of a cotter-pin type and is, accordingly, provided at one end with an attaching eye accessibly located beyond the garment confronting face of the inward lamination and is adapted, to be sewed to the garment. Novel means is sandwiched between confronting faces of the laminations and functions, to prevent the laminations from accidentally coming apart and separating under ordinary circumstances and particularly when subjected to agitation, that is, while the button is being dry cleaned and during which time the adhesive media may be undesirably subjected to deleterious chemicals.

United States Patent [191 Wolfeld [54] LAMINATE LEATHER BUTTON WITHPRONG-TYPE ANCHOR [75] Inventor: Max Wolfeld, Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Hemisphere Novelties, Inc., New

York, N.Y.

[22] Filed: June 28, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 157,370

[52] US. Cl. ..24/90 TB [51] Int. Cl. ..A44b 1/24, A44b 1/04 [58] Fieldof Search ..24/l02, 90 TB, 90 R, 24/1 13, 90 A [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 918,775 4/1909 Schloss... ..24/9O TB 1,111,4529/1914 Fox ..24/9O TB FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 661,967 11/1951Great Britain ..24/90 TB 907,732 3/1946 France.....; .....24/90 TB26,235 12/1908 Great Britain ..24/9O TB 130,895 8/1919 Great Britain..24/9O TB aw/Z71 [451 Apr. 10, 1973 297,514 9/1928 Great Britain..24/90 TB Primary Examiner-Bernard A. Gelak Att0meyClarence A. OBrienand Harvey B. Jacob- Son [5 7 ABSTRACT agitation, that is, while thebutton is being dry cleaned and during which time the adhesive media maybe undesirably subjected to deleterious chemicals.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures LAMINATE LEATHER BUTTON WITH PRONG- TYPEANCHOR This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements incomposite garment buttons, more particularly, buttons which are made upof aligned face-toface adhesively bonded inner and outer laminations ofleather and wherein the connectible face of the inner lamination isprovided with a readily accessible eye which is adapted to be sewed tothe garment.

It is prevailing practice to align the confronting interior surfaces oftwo disc-like leather laminations and to unite the laminations inproperly oriented relationship with the aid of pressure responsiveadhesive media. In addition, it is common practice to provide theattachable or inner lamination with a shank, more particularly, anadaptation resembling a cotter-pin and provided at one end of the shankproper with an attaching eye and at the other end with outwardly bentdetents. The fact that buttons made up of leather are in widespread useit is common practice to provide the display face or surface of theouter lamination with embossments defining an imitation woven leathereffect.

Experience has repeatedly shown that the adhesive media which issandwiched between the laminations is subject to deterioration with aresult that the laminations are either wholly or partially separated ina manner that the button is often ruined and unacceptable for approveduse. This deleterious action and undesirable result shows up when thegarment with the buttons thereon is dry cleaned. This is to say, thedeleterious cleaning chemicals act on the bonding adhesive media andallow the laminations to separate. Primarily, separation results, undermost circumstances, from the agitation and tumbling of the buttons inthe garment cleaning machine.

An object of the present invention is to advance the art in the field ofendeavor under consideration through the medium of anchor means which isinterposed between the confronting surfaces of the companionlaminations. This means coacts with a cooperating end of the associatedshank and, more particularly, embodies lateral circumferentially spacedprongs which are capable of being embedded in the coacting face portionof the outer lamination and, in so doing, prevents disintegration andseparation of the laminations.

Briefly, the herein disclosed composite button is unique in that it ischaracterized by two disc-like faceto-face laminations of leather one ofwhich is designated as the inner or inward lamination and the other oneas the outward or outer lamination. The display face of the outerlamination is preferably convexly shaped and embossed to provide surfaceomamentation, more particularly, the desired imitation woven leathereffect. The confronting or opposed surfaces of the two laminations arejoined by coacting plies of adhesive media which lends itself toacceptable use in this field of endeavor. The axial or central portionof the inner lamination accommodates the shank portion of the overallshank, that is, a cotter-pin-type shank whose protruding outer end isfashioned into an attaching eye, the inner ends of the legs beinglaterally bent to serve as detents. The stabilizing and anchoring meanscomprises a simple slotted washer through which a portion of the shankextends in a manner that the ends of the legs assist in holding thewasher in place. The marginal edge of the washer is provided withlateral circumferentially spaced pointed prongs which penetrate and areembedded in the adhesive-coated surface of the outer lamination. Whenthe two laminations are forcibly squeezed together to complete the finalassembling step the prongs are clenched and a positive anchoring resultis thus assured.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the inner and outerlaminations of leather and a prong-type anchor and a cooperableeye-equipped shank, these four parts being associated for expedientassembling purposes.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective showing the essence of the invention,more particularly, the slotted inner leather lamination, washer-likeanchor and the associated assembling and penetrating prongs.

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of the finished button which ties inwith FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view with parts in section and elevationtaken approximately on the plane of the central vertical section line 44of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the indicating arrows.

Referring to the views of the drawings singly and col lectively and withthe use of like reference characters indicating like parts, attention isfirst directed to FIG. 1. Here it will be evident that the first orinner (or inward) leather lamination is denoted by the numeral 6, thesame being of flat-faced disc-like construction. The interior flat orplanar surface is denoted at 8 and the endless marginal or peripheraledge at 10. The central or hub portion is provided with an elongatedslot 12 which opens through the interior and exterior surfaces. Theexterior surface is shown at 14 in FIG. 4. In actual practice and as afinishing step this surface is suitably finished and impressed toprovide a pressed portion surrounded by an encircling rib-like bead 16.Thus, the so-called inner lamination 6 is characterized by interior andexterior surfaces, an encompassing peripheral edge and a slot 12 at thecenter to accommodate the component part which is hereinafter referredto as the shank and which is denoted, as an entity (see FIG. 1) by thenumeral 18. More specifically, this prefabricated readily insertableshank resembles, a cotter-pin in that it is made from a length ofbendable stout wire stock and is fashioned into an eye 20 at one end,the shank proper as at 22. The legs, which make up the shank, areprovided with coaxial outstanding limit-stops or detents 24. The localeand functioning of this shank is evident upon considering FIG. 1 at theleft and then FIG. 2 wherein the shank has been passed through the slotmeans provided therefor.

The shank also serves to cooperate with and position and partly retainthe aforementioned means which is oriented and cooperable with thelaminations and which functions effectually in guarding against andvirtually preventing the laminations from accidentally parting andseparating. More specifically, this means,

denoted generally at 26, comprises a simple flat metal washer 28 whichas a central slot 30 which is aligned with the slot 12 when in use. Theencompassing marginal edge of the washer is provided withcircumferentially spaced laterally projecting triangular or V- shapedprongs 32 whose pointed apical ends are adapted to penetrate theinterior planar surface 34 of the outward (outer) disc-like leatherlamination 36. This lamination 36 is of a shape and size that itcoordinates with the first named or inner lamination 6. There is noaperture in this lamination. On the other hand it has a flat or planarexterior surface 38 which is parallel to the aforementioned interiorsurface34. The is peripheral or marginal edge is denoted at 40 and thisedge is flush with the edge when the two laminations are assembled, asbrought out in FIGS. 3 and 4. The interior surfaces 8 and 34 are coatedwith adhesive material which in practice is interposed or sandwichedbetween the coacting surfaces as denoted at 42 in the finished productshown in FIG. 4. Ordinarily and with regular use the two laminations areproperly lined up and stay put. When however this type of compositebutton is subjected to agitation during the course of dry cleaning, theadhesive media is acted upon and in many instances is so affected thatthe laminations sooner or later part and render the button substantiallyuseless. By using the pronged safeguarding anchor 26 this objectionalresult is overcome. It follows that the centrally apertured washer 28 issuperimposed upon the adhesive side of the lamination 6. When the slot30 is lined up with the slot 12 the eye-equipped end of theprefabricated rigid shank 18 in inserted and passed through said slots30 and 12, the eye 20 protrudes to provide its button mounting orattaching position as brought out in FIGS. 3 and 4. Also theaforementioned lateral dentend 24 assist in positioning and anchoringthe pronged washer, as is evident in FIG. 2. It follows that when thelamination 36 is lined up withthe companion lamination 6 is firmlypressed in place the pointed prongs 32 penetrate and embed themselves inthe lamination as brought out in FIG. 4. In fact during the squeezingand compressing stage the prongs 32 are actually deflected and clenchedin the manner shown in FIG. 4 to insure the reliable assemblinganchoring result desired.

The manner in which the exposed surfaces of the laminations are finishedwill vary. Ordinarily the surface 14 is depressed and provided with anencompassing bead 16 as brought out in FIG. 4. On the other hand thedisplay surface of the outer lamination 36 is embossed as designated at44 to achieve the aforementioned imitation woven leather effect. Thefact that surface ornamentation is variable, it will be evident that themanner in which the surface 44 is convexly formed and finished is notlimiting.

It is submitted that an analytical consideration of the individualcomponent parts as illustrated in FIG. 1, the

manner in which the components 6, 18 and 26 are assembled as shown inFIG. 2 and the nature of the end product and improved result (FIGS. 3and 4) will be clear from the illustrative drawings. Accordingly, a moreextended description is believed to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A laminated garment button embodying an inward leather laminationprovided at an axially centered area with a slot for passage of a rigidprefabricated shank, said lamination having interior and exterior planarfaces, said interior face being coated with pressure responsive adhesivemedia, an anchor comprising a rigid flat-faced washer centrallysuperimposed upon said interior face and having a shank slot alignedwith said first named slot, a readily applicable shank having a buttonattaching eye at one end and outbent limit stop detents at the otherend, said shank passing through the respective slots with said eyeprojecting beyond said exterior face, said detents abutting andpositioning said washer in a given functioning locale, said washerhaving penetrating and anchoring means, and, in combination, an outwardleather lamination like and complemental to said inward lamination andopposed to and functionally mated with said inward lamination and alsohaving interior and exterior planar faces, the interior face beingcoated with pressure responsive adhesive media and being pressed againstand bonded to the adhesive coated face on said inward lamination, saidanchoring means comprising prongs on said washer and said prongs beingforcibly embedded in the interior face of said outward lamination andsecurely clamping said laminations together.

2. The laminated garment button defined in and according to claim 1, andwherein the aforementioned penetrating and anchoring means comprisescircumferentially spaced laterally projecting pointed prongs provided onthe marginal edge of said washer and which are embedded when in use anddeflected and clenched in their given embedded positions.

3. The laminated garment button defined in and according to claim 2, andwherein the exterior surface of the inner lamination is depressed in amanner to define an encompassing outstanding bead, and wherein anexterior display surface of the outer lamination is formed convexly andis embossed in a manner to provide an imitation woven leather finish.

4. A laminated button for use on garments and apparel comprising likeinward and outward complemental laminations having inward confrontingand mating faces coated with adhesive media and pressed together inface-to-face relationship and retentively united, an axially positionedrigid shank secured to the adhesive coated face of said inwardlamination, said shank having a button attaching eye projecting axiallyand accesibly beyond the garment confronting'exterior surface of saidinward lamination, and means oriented and cooperable with saidlaminations in a manner to effectually guard against and prevent saidlaminations from accidentally parting and separating, said means beinginterposed and centrally sandwiched between said adhesive coated facesand being highly effective when, for example, the button mounted on agarment is subjected to agitation when said garment is being drycleaned, said laminations being made of firm leather, and said 5. Thebutton defined in and according to claim 4, and wherein the outerdisplay face of the outer lamination is convexly embossed to provide anornamental woven leather finish.

1. A laminated garment button embodying an inward leather laminationprovided at an axially centered area with a slot for passage of a rigidprefabricated shank, said lamination having interior and exterior pLanarfaces, said interior face being coated with pressure responsive adhesivemedia, an anchor comprising a rigid flat-faced washer centrallysuperimposed upon said interior face and having a shank slot alignedwith said first named slot, a readily applicable shank having a buttonattaching eye at one end and outbent limit stop detents at the otherend, said shank passing through the respective slots with said eyeprojecting beyond said exterior face, said detents abutting andpositioning said washer in a given functioning locale, said washerhaving penetrating and anchoring means, and, in combination, an outwardleather lamination like and complemental to said inward lamination andopposed to and functionally mated with said inward lamination and alsohaving interior and exterior planar faces, the interior face beingcoated with pressure responsive adhesive media and being pressed againstand bonded to the adhesive coated face on said inward lamination, saidanchoring means comprising prongs on said washer and said prongs beingforcibly embedded in the interior face of said outward lamination andsecurely clamping said laminations together.
 2. The laminated garmentbutton defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein theaforementioned penetrating and anchoring means comprisescircumferentially spaced laterally projecting pointed prongs provided onthe marginal edge of said washer and which are embedded when in use anddeflected and clenched in their given embedded positions.
 3. Thelaminated garment button defined in and according to claim 2, andwherein the exterior surface of the inner lamination is depressed in amanner to define an encompassing outstanding bead, and wherein anexterior display surface of the outer lamination is formed convexly andis embossed in a manner to provide an imitation woven leather finish. 4.A laminated button for use on garments and apparel comprising likeinward and outward complemental laminations having inward confrontingand mating faces coated with adhesive media and pressed together inface-to-face relationship and retentively united, an axially positionedrigid shank secured to the adhesive coated face of said inwardlamination, said shank having a button attaching eye projecting axiallyand accesibly beyond the garment confronting exterior surface of saidinward lamination, and means oriented and cooperable with saidlaminations in a manner to effectually guard against and prevent saidlaminations from accidentally parting and separating, said means beinginterposed and centrally sandwiched between said adhesive coated facesand being highly effective when, for example, the button mounted on agarment is subjected to agitation when said garment is being drycleaned, said laminations being made of firm leather, and said meanscomprising an anchor, more particularly, a centered washer havinglaterally bent marginal anchoring prongs, said prongs being V-shaped andhaving apical penetrating points which are embedded and clenched inretentive positions in the coacting inward adhesive coated face of saidouter lamination.
 5. The button defined in and according to claim 4, andwherein the outer display face of the outer lamination is convexlyembossed to provide an ornamental woven leather finish.